DBI releases Nigeria Digital Economy Outlook 2026: Q1 Intelligence Report (Executive Edition) - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

DigitalSENSE Business Intelligence (DBI), an initiative of ITREALMS Media, has released the Nigeria Digital Economy Outlook 2026: Q1 Intelligence Report (Executive Edition), offering strategic insights into the trends, risks, and opportunities shaping Nigeria’s digital economy, reports ITREALMS.

The report provides a concise, data-driven overview of key developments across telecommunications, financial technology (fintech), digital infrastructure, policy, and investment dynamics. It highlights the increasing role of digital transformation in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and innovation across the country.

Journalists: MRA releases report on rampant attacks by government officials - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has released a report titled “When Protectors Become Predators: The State Against Freedom of Expression in Nigeria”, documenting a disturbing pattern of attacks, intimidation, and harassment targeted at journalists and other media workers by security, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies, which are the very institutions that are supposed to protect them, reports ITREALMS.

The 129-page report, issued in commemoration of this year’s International Day to End Impunity (IDEI) for Crimes Against Journalists, highlights how those entrusted with maintaining law and order as well as protecting citizens, including journalists, have instead become instruments of repression, targeting journalists and other media workers for doing their legitimate work of informing the public and holding power to account.

INEC releases locations for nationwide CVR exercise - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the locations of registration centres for the Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, reports ITREALMS.

According to the Commission in a press statement available to ITREALMS today, Thursday and endorsed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee at INEC, Sam Olumekun, the CVR will resume on August 18, 2025, with online pre-registration, while in-person registration will commence on August 25, 2025.

Commonwealth short story award winner releases 'The Talent Coach' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

A Commonwealth short story award winner, and author of 'The Familiar Stranger and Other Stories,' Dr. Frederick Mordi, has released his second novel, The Talent Coach, reports ITREALMS.

Published by New Africa Book Publishers (NABP), The Talent Coach is a tour de force that adds a new perspective to the nature versus nurture debate. The novel tells the compelling story of Dr. Joe Jordan a highly sought after by many high-profile clients including CEOs of Fortune 500 Companies, heads of state, and athletes.

Late veteran journalist, Ifeanyi Ubabukoh for burial April 25 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The former columnist and Chairman of the Editorial Board, Champion Newspapers Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubabukoh would be buried on Thursday, April 25, 2024, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement from the family endorsed by Ozioma Ubabukoh said that the Ubabukoh family of Ngo Village in Igbo-Ukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, has announced April 25, 2024 as the burial date for their patriarch, brother and uncle, Mr. Ifeanyi John Ubabukoh, who passed on to glory on February 14, 2024.

Ethiopia releases French journalist, Antoine Galindo - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

A French journalist with African Intelligence, Mr. Antoine Galindo has been released by the authorities in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, reports ITREALMS.

Galindo, ITREALMS gathered, was arrested on 22 February while on assignment for Africa Intelligence in Ethiopia.

POS: AMMBAN releases unified charges - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


The Lagos State chapter of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) has released a unified price list for Point of Sales (PoS) transactions, reports ITREALMS.

The chairman, AMMBAN, Lagos State chapter, Abiodun David in an interview with Channels TV, disclosed that the new price was agreed upon by the Association in an effort to reduce extortion by POS agents on the general people and is also a reflection of the current economic climate in the nation.

Lagos releases Tuesday travel advisory - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Lagos State government has released travel advisory on the planned All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential mega rally in the state reports ITREALMS.

The advisory, according to the General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, is on the mega rally slated for Tuesday, February 21, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

MRA releases video to mark 2023 Data Privacy Day - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today released a sensitisation video to commemorate the global Data Privacy Day, which is celebrated yearly on January 28, and called on all Nigerians to educate themselves about the importance of data privacy while taking appropriate steps to safeguard their privacy.



The three and a half minute long animated video, which is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/PVQfo1ZfLdY, explains the origin of the Day, its importance, why it concerns everyone and appropriate measures that members of the public can take to protect their data and privacy.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Mr. John Gbadamosi, MRA’s Programme Officer, said: “We are pleased to join the rest of the world today to commemorate this year’s Data Privacy Day. We consider it to be a significant occasion because poor data privacy habits and practices can be catastrophic for individuals and their organizations as these can result in identity theft, enable fraud, cyberattacks, cause damage to personal and corporate reputations, among many other potential harms.”

INEC releases timetable for governorship in Bayelsa, Imo & Kogi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released timetable and schedule of activities for three states' governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi, reports ITREALMS.

INEC at its weekly meeting held Tuesday 25th October 2022, approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States’ governorship elections.

Family releases details of Rotimi Fashakin's funeral plans - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The family of Elder Engr. Joseph Oluwarotimi Fashakin, has released details of his burial plans, reports ITREALMS.

According to the plan released late Sunday, and made available to ITREALMS, there will be a Service of Songs at Marcelina's place at 36 Isaac Jones Street,Ikeja Lagos on 25th October 2022 at 3.00pm.

CBN releases cybersecurity guidelines, sets compliance date @January 2023 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the Risk-Based Cybersecurity Framework and Guidelines for Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) which sets January 1, 2023 as date for compliance, reports ITREALMS.

This, ITREALMS gathered followed the recent rise in the number and sophistication of cybersecurity threats against financial institutions.

Paradigm Initiative releases 2018 annual report, demonstrates impact - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The social enterprise, Paradigm Initiative has released its 2018 annual report with an insight into the work of the organisation, especially in how it lives up to its mission of improving the “livelihoods of underserved youths” reports ITREALMS.

Featured in the annual report is Joy Ukpong, an alumna of the group’s free digital inclusion program. At the time of joining the program, 27-year old Joy Ukpong's income was N10,000 a month as a struggling hairdresser in Ajegunle, Lagos. She was desperate for a break, and Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Inclusion program gave her the break which she wisely seized, learning relevant digital and life skills.

Few weeks after the conclusion of the 10-week training, Ukpong got a job as an administrative assistant at a law firm. Her income immediately jumped to N25,000. Thanks to her new skills, Ukpong has a more stable income and work structure that allows her to develop herself.

Her story, according to Paradigm Initiative’s Communications Officer, Sodiq Alabi, “is another proof that our investment in digital inclusion programs in underserved communities is indeed improving the livelihood of the beneficiaries.”

The Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan also said, “As a result of the year's investment in under-served Nigerian youth, we were able to train 869 students through the 10-week LIFE program, LIFE@School Club and the quarterly workshops. 150 students got internships, picked up jobs, earned enough to return to school, joined apprenticeship programs and/or started micro businesses. During the year, the average income among our students grew from N4,805.15 to N23,083.25!”

Highlighting the group’s work in digital rights, Sesan said “In 2018, our Digital Rights work covered Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. We hosted 13 training programs, reviewed 36 policy documents, produced 12 research-based reports, acted on 20 digital rights violations, and led 4 litigation processes.”

The Director of Programs, Tope Ogundipe said the passage of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill in Nigeria is an important milestone for the group in 2018. The Bill, which was transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari on February 5 2019, has been a major project of the group since 2014 when it began advocacy for the passage of a law dedicated to the protection of online rights and freedoms.

Paradigm Initiative, which was founded in Nigeria in 2007, is physically present in five African countries, from where it executes programs across the continent. The group said its new Strategic Management Plan (2019-2023) would even see it do more over the next few years.

*Contributed by Sodiq Alabi, Communications Officer

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

ICANN releases 3rd Report on Global Legislative and Regulatory Developments - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has released its third report on global legislative and regulatory developments, (GLRD) reports ITREALMS.

This report, ITREALMS gathered, highlighted a limited list of recent and pending legislative and regulatory initiatives on privacy/data protection and cybersecurity across the world.

Also, the report, ICANN said, is a continuation of the initiative launched last year to identify legislative efforts across the globe early-on, to raise awareness within ICANN, and consider potential impacts.

Moving forward, the global legislative and regulatory developments reports will be published three times a year, parallel to the publishing of the ICANN Organization Report to the Board.

ICANN further appreciated everyone who has provided feedback on the previous two reports.

“We look forward to hearing from you about any high-impact developments in the e-privacy and cybersecurity ecosystem that should be tracked in future reports. You can send your comments and/or information about new developments in your region to trackingfeedback@icann.org,” official statement from ICANN and made available to ITREALMS read.

ITREALMS recalls that ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique, so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation and a community with participants from all over the world.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Task Force releases 833 children from armed group in Northeast - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

  

The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, has released some 833 children from armed group in the region, reports ITREALMS.

This has also attracted commendation from UNICEF.

This is the first formal release of children from the CJTF since September 2017 when the group signed an action plan committing to put measures in place to end and prevent child recruitment following a listing in the annexes of the UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report for Children and Armed Conflict for the recruitment and use of children.

“The release of these children from CJTF shows commitment to implement the provisions of the Action Plan and to uphold international humanitarian law, human rights laws as well as other regional and national legislations, protecting children’s rights,” said Pernille Ironside, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Nigeria and the Co-chair of United Nations Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting on grave child rights violations (CTFMR).

“This is a significant milestone in ending the recruitment and use of children, but many more children remain in the ranks of other armed groups in either combat or support roles. We call on all parties to stop recruiting children and let children be children.”

Since the Action Plan was signed, members of the CTFMR initiated a joint field verification exercise to ascertain the presence and association of children within the command structures and ranks of the Civilian Joint Task Force. As of today, a total of 1,469 children (1,175 boys and 294 girls), associated with the Civilian Joint Task Force have been identified within the city of Maiduguri.

UNICEF continues to work closely with state authorities to support the implementation of reintegration programmes for the children released today as well as others affected by the ongoing conflict.

Since 2017, UNICEF has supported the social and economic reintegration of more than 8,700 children released from armed groups, helping trace their families, returning them to their communities, and offering them psychosocial support, education, vocational training and informal apprenticeships, and opportunities to improve livelihoods.

Nenye Dom/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Breaking NEWS: FG releases 24 more names of ‘PDP looters’ says ‘list not arbitrary’

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government has said the list of alleged looters which it released earlier was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount in question were collected and from where it was taken, reports ITRealms.

Releasing a fresh list of alleged looters, in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also said those complaining that the list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.

''At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or just to shoot down anything coming from the government,'' he said, adding that the Federal Government has a large number of alleged looters on its list.

Alhaji Mohammed slammed the PDP for daring to challenge the Federal Government over an issue that the party knows is its weakness: Looting of public treasury.

''What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the party's watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke? Did they think it is April Fool?'' he queried.

The Minister said the PDP's reaction to the looters' list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.

''The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party's rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new leaf.

''It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this, hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it will also not rest until all those who looted the public treasury have been brought to justice.

Second batch list of looters and allegedly embezzled, he said, include:

1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1 billion military equipment scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any formal contract awards.

2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes and royalty. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local and international to ensure justice.

3. Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion recovered by EFCC in cash and property

4. Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.

5. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.

6. Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.

7. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.

8. Senator Bala Abdulkadir, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

9. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

10. Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion - from NSA.

11. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.

12. Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.

13.  Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion

14. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million

15. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion

16.  Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million

17.  Tom Ikimi: N300 million

18.  Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million

19.  Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million

20.  Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion

21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion

22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million

23. Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion

24  Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

GTBank releases full year 2017 with PBT @N200.24bn

ITREALMS:

The Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) plc, has released its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2017 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges, reports ITRealms.

An appraisal of the results by ITRealms, showed positive performance across all financial indices, reaffirming the Bank’s position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Nigeria, with its Profit Before Tax (PBT) standing at N200.24 billion as at end of year, under review.

According to the results, the gross earnings for the year grew by 1.1 per  cent to ₦419.2billion from ₦414.6billion reported in the December 2016; driven primarily by growth in interest income as well as e-payment revenues. Profit before tax stood at ₦200.2billion, representing a growth of 21.3 per cent over ₦165.1billion recorded in the corresponding year ended December 2016. The Bank’s loan book dipped by 8.9per cent from ₦1.590trillion recorded as at December 2016 to ₦1.449trillion in December 2017 while customer deposits increased by 3.8per cent to ₦2.062trillion from ₦1.986trillion in December 2016.

The Bank’s balance sheet remained strong with a 3.9per cent growth in Total Assets and Contingents as the Bank closed the year ended December 2017 with Total Assets and Contingents of ₦3.845trillion and Shareholders’ Funds of ₦625.2Billion. In terms of Assets quality, NPL ratio increased to 7.7per cent in December 2017 from 3.7per cent in December 2016 largely as a result of classification of a single exposure within the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry.

In addition, non-performing loans, the bank said, would moderate to 4.6 per cent, which is below regulatory threshold, if we exclude this name from NPL ratio computation. Overall, asset quality remains stable with adequate coverage of 119.6 per cent, while Capital remains strong with CAR of 25.7 per cent. On the backdrop of this result, Return on Equity (ROAE) and Return on Assets (ROAA) closed at 35.4 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively. The Bank is proposing a final dividend of 240k per unit of ordinary shareheld by shareholders in addition to interim dividend of 30k per unit of ordinary share bringing total dividend for 2017 financial year to ₦2.70 per unit of ordinary share.

In his reaction, the Managing Director/CEO GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said that the 2017 was a pivotal year for the bank.

“We delivered a strong result in a challenging environment; achieving record growth in earnings, carefully managing cost margins and leveraging our digital-first customer-centric strategy to deliver world-class services that are simple, cheap and easily accessible,” he said.

Agbaje further said that the result demonstrated the fundamental strength of GTbank’s franchise as well as the progress made in transforming the organization into a platform on which customers could build their businesses, connect with their consumers and access all the resources that they need to make their lives better.

GTBank has continued to report the best financial ratios for a Financial Institution in the industry as revealed by its return on equity (ROE) of 35.4per cent and cost to income ratio of 38.1 per cent evidencing the efficient management of assets and operational efficiency. Overall, the Bank has enshrined its position as a clear leader in the industry. In recognition of its innovation and hard work, the Bank received over 20 international awards in 2017.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Dapchi Girls: FG releases comprehensive list of missing students

ITRealms:

... List attached

Finally, the Federal Government (FG) has released a comprehensive list of the missing students with the names and other details of the 110 girls, following the attack and their abduction at the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, on 19 February, 2018, reports ITRealms.

The list was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who has twice led a Federal Government delegation to Yobe since the tragic
incident occurred.

The SA Media to Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Segun Adeyemi, who affirmed this to ITRealms, said the list, which was handed over to the Minister by the Yobe State Government, contains the name, age and class of each of the 110 students.

“Out of the 110 missing girls, 8 are in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3. The girls' ages range from 11 to 19 years,” he said.

In addition, he said, the list, which contained the contact address and phone numbers of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools' Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Tuesday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier deployed more platforms to the North-east for the search, as the security agencies ramp up their efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

You can see full list here:

Uj. N. Dominic with Doris Minimah/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

EFCC bows to #BoyCottGTBankOverInnoson pressure, releases Chukwuma

ITREALMS:

The chairman of Innoson Motors Group, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday evening, reports ITRealms.

His release, ITRealms gathered was not unconnected to the condemnation that followed his abduction from Enugu, Tuesday morning.

ITRealms also gathered that concern Nigerians have commenced social media campaign on Twitter with a #BoyCottGTBankOverInnoson hashtag barely 24 hours.

Dr. Chukwuma was released on bail, according to report by the Channels TV.

His abduction by EFCC, ITRealms equally gathered was attributed to commercial transaction involving Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc which went awary and culminated in GTBank being indebted to the business mogul to over N10 billion.

Equally, ITRealms gathered his release was linked to alleged "pressure" on EFCC and GTBank brought about by the unprecedented social media across various platforms including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Telegram, among others.

In addition, the Federal Government may have become uncomfortable with the increasing bad blood and image the commando abduction of Chukwuma has been causing nationwide.

However, EFCC in a Tweet on its handle a few hours ago, insisted on why Dr. Chukwuma was taken in for question, alleging "Chukwuma & his brother, Charles (who is at large) are being investigated by EFCC's Capital Market & Insurance Fraud Section for N1,478,366,859.66 fraud. He allegedly forged documents to secure tax waivers."

Chuks Egbune/ED, Ops

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

FG releases another Paris Club refunds to states

ITRealms:

The Federal Government (FG) has released yet another details on State by State breakdown of tranche of Paris Club refund of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts on the accounts of States and Local Governments between 1995 and year 2002, reports ITRealms.

Director of Information at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Salisu Na’Inna Dambatta told ITRealms, Tuesday that a total of N243, 795,465,195.20 was made to the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory upon the approval of the President on May 4, 2017, in partial settlement of long-standing claims by State Governments relating to over-deductions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation for external debt service arising between 1995 and 2002.

He also quoted the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun in a press statement made available to ITRealms as pointing out that these debt service deductions were in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and Multilateral debts of the FG and States.

“While Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some States had already been overcharged,” she said.

These funds, the Minister said, were released to State Governments as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and were specifically designed to support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thereby alleviating the challenges faced by workers.

These releases, she said, were conditional upon a minimum of 75 per cent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for States that owe salaries and pension.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance is reviewing the impact of these releases on the level of arrears owed by State Governments,” she said.

Adeosun further said, a detailed report is being compiled for presentation to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as part of the process for approval for the release of any subsequent tranches.

Breakdown of payment to states below:

S/N	STATE	AMOUNT PAYABLE (NGN)
1	ABIA	5,715,765,871.48
2	ADAMAWA	6,114,300,352.68
3	AKWA-IBOM	10,000,000,000.00
4	ANAMBRA	6,121,656,702.34
5	BAUCHI	6,877,776,561.25
6	BAYELSA	10,000,000,000.00
7	BENUE	6,854,671,749.25
8	BORNO	7,340,934,865.32
9	CROSS RIVER	6,075,343,946.93
10	DELTA	10,000,000,000.00
11	EBONYI	4,508,083,379.98
12	EDO	6,091,126,592.49
13	EKITI	4,772,836,647.08
14	ENUGU	5,361,789,409.66
15	GOMBE	4,472,877,698.19
16	IMO	7,000,805,182.97
17	JIGAWA	7,107,666,706.76
18	KADUNA	7,721,729,227.55
19	KANO	10,000,000,000.00
20	KATSINA	8,202,130,909.85
21	KEBBI	5,977,499,491.45
22	KOGI	6,027,727,595.80
23	KWARA	5,120,644,326.57
24	LAGOS	8,371,938,133.11
25	NASARAWA	4,551,049,171.12
26	NIGER	7,210,793,154.95
27	OGUN	5,739,374,694.46
28	ONDO	7,003,648,314.28
29	OSUN	6,314,106,340.62
30	OYO	7,901,609,864.25
31	PLATEAU	5,644,079,055.41
32	RIVERS	10,000,000,000.00
33	SOKOTO	6,441,128,546.76
34	TARABA	5,612,014,491.52
35	YOBE	5,413,103,116.59
36	ZAMFARA	5,442,385,594.49
37	FCT	684,867,500.04
	TOTAL	243,795,465,195.20

Nonye Dom with additional reports from Doris Minimah/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!